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Human brain cells implanted in rats prompt excitement — and concern

Rat–human hybrid brains offer new ways to study human neurological disorders, but also raise ethical questions.
  1. Sara Reardon
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Miniature human-brain-like structures transplanted into rats can send signals and respond to environmental cues picked up by the rats’ whiskers, according to a study1. This demonstration that neurons grown from human stem cells can interface with nerve cells in live rodents could lead to a way to test therapies for human brain disorders.

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Nature 610, 427-428 (2022)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-03238-x

References

  1. Revah, O. et al. Nature 610, 319–326 (2022).

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  2. Mansour, A. A. et al. Nature Biotechnol. 36, 432–441 (2018).

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